Scrambling in Wadi Rum

Exploring the valleys and the mountains of Wadi Rum.

Scrambling routes are often based on the old Bedouin trails on the mountains. They are mostly hill walking routes but you should be prepared to use your hands occasionally to help you along. They take you into parts of the area that most tourists never see : they are for the adventurous people who enjoy a challenge. They are more difficult than the hiking routes, and you will need to be in good physical condition to get a maximum of enjoyment from them.

Trip Valid:

This trip is available between September and May avoiding the hot summer

Duration:

5 days / 4 nights

Activities:

Camping, Hiking, Scrambling, Trekking

Physical Rating:

Moderate

Meeting point:

Wadi Rum Visitor Center

Finishing point:

Rum Village

Day 1: Meet your Bedouin trekking guide, trek to Wadi Um Ishrin through the Rakabat Canyon and camp out at the large Sand Dune.This trip starts and ends at Wadi Rum village - let us know should you require assistance with transportation. We will meet our Bedouin hosts and trekking crew at the new Visitor Center in Wadi Rum and transfer our baggage from the bus to our support jeeps, before walking into the village where our lunch has been prepared.

After Lunch, we will walk through the village and across the short stretch of sandy plain to the start of the Rakabat Canyon, which cuts through the imposing mountain of Um Ishrin. This is a traditional route used by the Bedouin in their travels between Wadi Rum and Wadi Um Ishrin and we may meet herds of goats being driven through. After an initial rocky ascent, the route takes us across an exposed sloping ledge, before descending steeply into a narrow ravine known as Goat Gulley.

Beyond this narrowing, you will find yourself in a middle of a maze of interconnected canyons. At that point you realize the importance of a good local bedouin guide with a good eye for the natural paths. The route we are following takes us through a little valley, scrambling over a rocky ledge, passing beneath a huge boulder and then descending through a ravine into Wadi Um Ishrin where a large dune has built up. This is where we will find our camping place set up and our support crew receiving us with a hot pot of tea mixed with a desert herb. You will have time for some exploring around and choosing where you would like to sleep, the choice is yours, on the sand under the starts, by the campfire or in your tent.

We will gather around the campfire for dinner - cooked in the embers of wood fire - and get to know our Bedouin hosts, exchange banters and learn something about their exceptional culture.

Day 2: Hike and Scramble through Jebel Burda following the bedouin hunting route to the rock bridge. Breakfast will usually be served by 8 a.m. accompanied fruits, tea and Nescafe. You may of course pocket a snack for later. After breakfast, we will get in the jeeps for the short drive to Jebel Burdah passing through a wide valley with magnificent cliffs and sand dunes. We will also have an opportunity to see and old rock inscription of a camel caravan. Reaching the trailhead by the foot of Burdah we start our mountain trek towards the famous rock bridge of Burdah. This route involves some relatively easy scrambling across open rock slabs and through a maze of alleys. Our guide will lead us through the best route to a small plateau and into a hidden gulley which offer an awesome view of the bridge above. Then we climb a short steep wall while being safeguarded by a climbing rope and walk over the rock bridge enjoy awe-inspiring views across the whole desert region.

Descending back we have the option of a different route crossing wonderful open slabs of descending by an alternative route, again crossing wonderful open slabs and scrambling down in a steep groove. Back at the mountain foot after a 3-hour round-trip, we meet our crew and have lunch in the shade and have a siesta.We then walk for a couple of hours through desert valleys between some amazingly eroded cliffs passing the small rock arch of Jebel Um Fruth to reach our next camp our location. At camp, jugs of water will be available for those who want to find a quiet corner and wash off the desert dust.

Day 3: Climb Jebel Al Hash The day starts with a half-hour transfer southwards to Jebel Al Hash. Here, we start out hiking through an interesting rocky valley with some scattered vegetation and over easy rocky slabs as our route winds and turns to the plateau beneath the highest rocky piles of this massive mountain. Over there, you will enjoy a 360 degree extending across the desert landscape. We then start descending towards the west through another rocky valley to complete the trip around Jebel Al Hash in around 4 hours. There are some great rock colors, blues and purples, as we finally reach a sandy Wadi and meet up with our crew for lunch. After lunch, we trek through a charming Wadi, where we may see Sinai. This walk also takes us through an ancient Bedouin cemetery and into an area of red rocks and red sand. There is a choice of camping places and good sunset views.

Day 4: Ascend Jebel Um Adaami and trek through the remote Wadi Saabit Get introduced to the highest mountain in Jordan; Jabel Um Al Dami which is located near the border with Saudi Arabia. In the morning; we will be going on a enjoyable jeep trip into the rarely-visited Wadi Sabit. We will start our hike into a sandy valley which is the only difficult climbing part. Afterwards, a smooth and unforgettable views is what we will get all along the way. Up on the mountain we will find a shaded spot to rest and have a cup of tea mixed with herbs collected during the climb by our Bedouin desert guide and enjoy an awe-inspiring views of the Saudi desert mountains on the horizon. Later, we will head back to our camp for lunch before starting our afternoon program where for the next 2 hours we will be exploring the desert around while passing by the Bedouin camps, enjoy the sight of grazing the goats and camels by the locals. Then, we will head back again to our camp for a feast on Zarb- a traditional Bedouin dish of chicken or lamb with vegetables cooked underneath the sand and a night under the sky. We will be spending the night in an area close to Um Sabata, the choice is yours whether you would like to sleep inside the original Bedouin tent or to camp outside in the wilderness on the soft sand!

Day 5. Departure we will head back to Rum Village where the trip ends.

You may arrange with your tour leader if you desire to ride a camel back to Rum Village (this is an optional activity and is not included in the trip's price, it can cost between 15 and 35 JOD depending on the required distance.)